Janet Stokes Russellville, Alabama
Janet Stokes Russellville, Alabama
Post by: Janet Stokes on May 04, 2012, 02:25:13 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 15
     Our “subtle enemies” of INDECISION, DOUBT, and FEAR sometimes “remain hidden in the subconscious mind, where they are difficult to locate, and still more difficult to eliminate”. We have to identify them at their root, remove them, and replace these enemies with our friends- WILL-POWER, DEFINITE MAJOR PURPOSE, DECISION, BURNING DESIRE, and MIND CONTROL. “Mind control is the result of self-discipline and habit. You either control your mind or it controls you. There is no halfway compromise. The most practical of all methods for controlling the mind is the habit of keeping it busy with a definite purpose, backed by a definite plan”.
     The message to me from this section is- Have the willpower and self-discipline to set a habit of using personal positive self talk to reprogram my mind. Make the decision to do whatever it takes to achieve my definite purpose. Make a definite plan, commit to that plan, and take action. I know I have “spiritual forces of sufficient power to enable me to keep my mind free from all forms of FEAR”.
     My current hurdle is fanning the flames of my wants and needs in order to ignite a BURNING DESIRE that will carry me through anything that tries to stop me. I know that MFF is the next part of the plan for my purpose in life. I know that Infinite Intelligence has always made plans for me. I can look back and see example after example of those plans. For example, when I graduated from college in 1977 it was extremely difficult to find a job. Many of my professors had tried to talk me into going on and becoming an engineer since my teaching degree was in mathematics and physics. I knew that I was meant to be a teacher. They kept telling me that the surplus of teachers would cause me to be unable to find a job. I told them that I WOULD find a job if I had to go to Alaska. For a girl for Alabama that would have been an extreme change!But I would have gone anywhere that it took for the job.
     My plan was to apply to school systems in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee at first and then to expand the search if necessary. Of all the applications I sent out, only Tuscaloosa City and Tuscaloosa County called me for interviews (110 miles from my home). Each system had 4 or 5 openings and I was hired by Tuscaloosa County. After I signed the contract with them I got calls from several other schools closer to home. Why was it in the plan for me to go to Tuscaloosa? That is where I met my husband Sam. It was meant to be. When he came with me to my hometown for the first time, I was showing him around town. We drove past this little playground/park. He had “seen” it by his sixth sense in a dream. Confirmation of what we already knew- God’s purpose had been to put us together. We will be married 33 years in June.
     I could go on and on with examples like this in our life. I am so thankful to Michael and Linda and all of the MFF and Mental Cleanse Mastermind for pointing the way to “power that will enable you to throw off discouragement, master fear, overcome procrastination, and draw freely upon your imagination”.
Janet Stokes
From Janet Stokes for the 30 day mental cleanse.
Learn how to be successful
http://bdrake.successin10steps.com/?mad=52669
bend1297a@gmail.com
http://www.ben-drake.com

Tuula Rands, British Columbia, Canada
Tuula Rands, British Columbia, Canada
Post by: Tuula Rands on May 04, 2012, 03:38:32 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 15 – How to Outwit the Six Ghosts of Fear
Fear in any form really is about how we think.  In fact,
everything we do depends on how we think. 
We can either build ourselves up or we can tear ourselves
down.  And most of us have been tearing ourselves down
for the majority of our lives. 
Our self talk has been telling us all the negative
things we do and downplaying the good and positive things
we do.  Until we change the program we have set for ourselves
we will live in a state of fear.  And it does not matter what
the fear is because any fear will hold us back.
We all recognize the logo “Mentoring for Free – Where you
learn how to think not what to think.”
Well, getting rid of fear takes thought and decision
backed by action.
I was disgusted with myself once I understood my fear
of not speaking up on the calls was basically a fear of
criticism which is really selfishness because I was
more concerned about how I felt rather than how the other
person felt. 
I then made my decision and backed it up with action.  Was it easy?
No, not at first.  But it eventually changed my life.
Living under any kind of fear is letting everyone, everything and anything
live our lives for us.  We were not made to live like that.
We were made in the image of our creator and He does not live
in fear and neither should we. 
I changed my programming and My self talk is:
“I am happy, confident and grateful because God
is blessing me and I am a positive example and influence
in all areas of my life”.
Tuula Rands
From Tuula Rands for the 30 day mental cleanse.
Learn how to be successful
http://bdrake.successin10steps.com/?mad=52669
bend1297a@gmail.com
http://www.ben-drake.com

Willena Flewelling - Alberta Canada
Willena Flewelling - Alberta Canada
Post by: Willena Flewelling on May 09, 2012, 12:40:19 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I spent ALL DAY yesterday doing something that was difficult for me because I
didn't know quite how to do it. A single project, not related to Mentoring For Free
or the mental cleanse, yet it was inspired by the mental cleanse, and only because
of what I've learned here that I was able to do it at all. It's something I should
have done many years ago, but I didn't because I was afraid of my mother's anger,
and subsequently her criticism.
Compared to my friends at school, I had an excellent relationship with my mom.
It isn't hard for me to believe Michael when he says our parents did the best they
could with what they knew. I know my Mom bent over backwards to give us her
best. Mom was widowed at age 28, and left with three small children, ages 2 to 7.
She remarried a year later. My stepfather was an alcoholic, but a good and
generous man. There was no abuse in our home, but it certainly wasn't smooth
sailing. Mom shouldered the burden of homemaking and raising five children on
what she could salvage of his pay envelope after he had spent much of it at the
hotel, buying drinks for his friends.
I was 13 when I accepted the Lord as my Saviour. Even in retrospect, I don't think
I was self righteous or hypocritical about it, but that's how my mom saw it. The
slightest misdemeanour called forth ridicule. I was keenly aware of how I fell
short of Mom's standard at home, and I felt so ashamed. On the very rare occasion
when Mom attended a church service with me, the pastor would tell her what a
wonderful young lady I was, and I wanted to run and hide. I knew she was
thinking, "Are you talking about MY daughter?" I was confused. Who was right?
My pastor or my mom? It had to be my mom, right? Because she knew me much
better than the people at church did.
Mom's ridicule of me was reinforced by a friend's mom, whose opinion meant
almost as much to me as my mom's. I should have heeded Paul's advice to
young Timothy in the New Testament, and rested in Christ and HIS message
written on my heart. Instead I quailed before these adults who could not hear
the truth from a mere teenager. So I decided very early in my Christian walk,
never to speak to my mom of my faith.
That was 45 years ago. I know I am not that little girl any more, but one of the
strange oddities of life is that no matter how old we are or what happens through
the years, we are still children in the eyes of our mothers. And one characteristic
of MY mom is that she somehow manages to make sure we are never truly alone,
just her and me. I'm sure it isn't intentional... she just isn't "there" in the moment,
focused on any one person. In person or on the phone, her attention is grabbed
by the dog, the cat, the TV, someone in the next room... You get the picture.
The second week in May is a special time in my family, because it means Mother's
Day AND two birthdays... mine and my mom's. This year is even more special
because it is Mom's 80th birthday.
A week ago Sunday our pastor gave us an assignment. "Write down your answer
to the question, 'What does Jesus Christ mean to me?'"
I immediately thought of my mom, and how much I want to share Him with her,
and how nearly impossible she makes it for me to do that. If I could just write
it in a letter, maybe she would read it?
Well, guess who did not do her assignment last week? And guess who felt guilty
during church this week when the pastor asked for volunteers to share what
they had written down...
Yesterday morning I felt as lost and inadequate as ever, in knowing how to share
something so deep and precious with my mom, and not knowing how she would
receive it. But as the pastor said in his sermon on Sunday, MY witness means
sharing with someone what He means to ME... what I have seen and heard...
what He has done for ME... how He has answered prayer for ME...
Just sharing... speaking from my heart. Not trying to convince her or change her
mind on anything.
It still took all day and all evening, but it's done! Ian took it to work with him
this morning and mailed it. Wow... it feels GOOD to take action on a lesson
learned, regardless of any fear, and JUST DO IT!
Willena Flewelling
Alberta Canada
From Willena Flewelling for the 30 day mental cleanse.
Learn how to be successful
http://bdrake.successin10steps.com/?mad=52669
bend1297a@gmail.com
http://www.ben-drake.com

Margi Starr, Springfield, Ohio

Margi Starr, Springfield, Ohio
Post by: Margi Starr on May 08, 2012, 09:08:12 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 15: The Six Ghosts of Fear

Music in a minor key starts to play and the shadows lengthen. As my eyes adjust to the darkness, I see three figures dressed in trench coats. Although barely visible in the foggy mist, their identities are unmistakable.

These dark characters hide in the shadows like vampires. Sometimes I’m not even aware of their presence, but they are there…waiting to steal my thoughts and suck my blood. They look for advantageous moments when my thoughts spiral into negativity.

Their names are Indecision, Doubt, and Fear.

They clearly are the enemies of my soul, attempting to steal my birthright.

These three are mere Cowards, preying on my emotions. They try to convince me that I am undeserving of a better life. Their voices trick me into sometimes believing them.

When I’m lazy and let down my guard, Indecision, Doubt, and Fear creep subtly into my mind, unleashing six basic fears: Poverty, Criticism, Ill Health, Loss of love, Old Age, and Death.

Each one of Fears is birthed in my mind.  Within minutes I actually have a physical reaction to the chemicals being released in my brain.  Nausea, dry heaves, and cold sweats become debilitating. There have been times when my bed has become my sanctuary as I’ve tried to hide from Fear.

Ever since beginning this amazing journey of Personal Growth, I’ve been learning the weapons of warfare against them.

Just as my innermost Thoughts can allow these dark enemies into my life and prevent my attainment of wealth, my Thoughts can also LOCK them out.

The secret for me is to daily surrender to God’s presence in my life. This means that I speak words of Power and Love into MY own life. The vibrational energy that is created from these Positive Thoughts eventually wrecks havoc with the negative thoughts.  The negative forces are losing their grip in my life. 

Love is after all, the most Positive force in the entire universe.  Because I am God’s Child, I have the right to live out my purpose with joy and abandonment. 

The Light in my life is turned ON. The shadows are lifted. The mysterious figures in trench coats are leaving me alone.

I am free because I have learned to guard my mind.

Thank you, Michael & Linda, for being such powerful role models as to the power of “Think & Grow Rich.”

Thoughts are Indeed Things,
Margi Starr

From Margi Star for the 30 day mental cleanse.
Learn how to be successful
http://bdrake.successin10steps.com/?mad=52669
bend1297a@gmail.com
http://www.ben-drake.com